Re: TGS driving VRML 2.0?

[email protected]
Mon, 17 Apr 1995 15:02:23 -0700


> On Apr 17, 12:06pm, Dave Nadeau wrote:
> Dave wrote :
>
> > 1. Dynamic loading is not supported on all architectures.
> >
> > 2. There are zillions of architectures, operating systems, and OS versions.
> > Supporting every one of these is not practical.
> >
> > 3. Security security security. Downloading a binary, linking it in to
> > your application automatically, then executing it is a virus writer's
> > dream.
> > An interpreted language, such as Java, addresses each of these issues.
> > It may be a hassle, but the consequences of not doing it are horrifying.

[email protected] (Mike Roberts) replied:
> Agreed, but I think we both agree that it is not the fact that the language
> is interpreted that provides the benefit, but because the transformative
> apsects of the language on the local system are restricted in some way ...

Sami Shaio has already replied about the benefits of an interpreted system
in achieving security, but I also wanted to point out that your generalization
here only applies to Point #3 above (security). Points 1 and 2 (architecture
neutrality) are also very neatly solved by using an interpreted language.

...jim